TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY; Some Atmel Patents Violated, U.S. Says

Published: October 18, 2000

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17—
A United States trade agency ruled today that computer chip manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and the United States had violated the Atmel Corporation's patents on digital memory circuits and ordered the companies to stop shipping products containing the devices to this country.

The International Trade Commission issued the order against Sanyo Electric of Japan; Silicon Storage Technology of the United States; and Macronix International and Winbond Electronics of Taiwan.

Under the order, the companies are forbidden to import the memory devices or products containing them. Should imports continue, the United States Customs Service has been directed to collect fines of 78 cents a device.

''We have fought, and will continue to fight, hard to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property rights against those who choose to violate them,'' George Perlegos, president and chief executive of Atmel, said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the chip maker, based in San Jose, Calif., filed suit in a Delaware federal court against STMicroelectronics, Europe's biggest chip maker, asserting infringements of seven Atmel patents for advanced semiconductors and production methods.